In what could be described as a deviation from the old tradition of not paying salaries but sitting allowance to executive members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since its formation in 1998, the new National Working Committee (NWC) has approved a new establishment manual which placed the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on a monthly salary of N2 million per month.

His monthly salary of N2 million is more than President Goodluck Jonathan monthly salary which is placed on N1.17 million per month.
The Vice-President Namadi Sambo, is on a yearly salary of N12.12 million or N1.1 million per month and the Senate President, David Mark, is on N8.7 million per year.

Under the new establishment manual by the party, the National Chairman of the party is expected to earn N2 million per month, while the National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola is take home the sum of N1.5 million per month.
The Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, is to take home the sum of N1.7 million per month.
Other members of the NWC of the PDP are by the approved Establishment Manual take home the sum of N1.2 million per month. Apart from the new monthly salaries, members of the NWC will continue to collect the N50,000 weekly sitting allowance which was all that accrued to their predecessors.

It was further noted that aside the new salaries, members of the NWC were equally entitled to housing, furniture and vehicle allowances.
It was gathered that the leadership of the party resolved to commence payment of monthly salaries to NWC members to financially empower them and discourage them from seeking financial assistance from PDP governors, a practice that compromised the party leaders in the past.

However, it could not be ascertained if the new salary payment will be extended to the zonal, state and ward executive committees who were all equally elected to administer the party at lower level.
The newly-approved establishment manual which was approved as at last week NWC meeting, but this is subject to approval by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

Efforts to reach the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, were unsuccessful as he was said to have travelled outside the country for official engagement.
The Special Assistant (Media) to Tukur, Shariff Ujudud, declined to comment on the issue in a telephone chat with THISDAY, insisting that only the National Publicity Secretary, would be in a good position to speak on the issue.

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